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Assignment- Parent Comment
It was thorough and detailed. Although I did not read the book, it gave me insight into the content. I enjoy the quotes which brought the book to life. This is a very cool way for the students to do their assignments and take quizzes.
Thank you for including us! Laura Rowe


Assignment #1

Suspense is when an author conveys a feeling of uncertainty or anxiousness about what is about to happen. Foreshadowing is where an author uses clues to hint at an event to come.

One example of suspense in this story is at the end of chapter two, on page 38, when Miss Brent is reading the Bible. It says "'The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth: the wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. The wicked shall be turned into hell.' Her tight lips closed. She shut the Bible." Suspense can also be found on page 32, when Vera is thinking about the sea, about drowning, and it says "No, she wouldn't remember.... She would not think of it! All that is over...." One more example of suspense is when Mr Blore is thinking "'Remember this island when I was a kid. Never thought I'd be doing this sort of a job in a house here. Good thing perhaps, that one can't foresee the future....'" (page 36) There is an example of suspense on page 29 when Vera is thinking about Mrs. Rodgers, "Vera thought: 'She looks frightened of her own shadow.' Yes that was it - frightened! She looked like a women who walked in mortal fear... A little shiver passed down Vera's back. What on earth was this women afraid of?"

In this book, there are also many examples of foreshadowing as well. One example, (page 27), is when Fred Narracott says, "'Can't land on Indian Island when there's a southeasterly. Sometimes 'tis cut off for a week or more.'" Another example can be found on page 36 when Anthony Marston is thinking to himself "Warm steaming water - tired limbs - presently a shave - a cocktail - dinner. And then - ?" Foreshadowing can also be found in the Ten Little Indians poem on page 31. "Ten little Indian boys went out to dine; One choked his little self and then there were nine. Nine little Indian boys sat up very late; One overslept himself and then there were eight. Eight little Indian boys travelling in Devon; One said he'd stay there and then there were seven. Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks; One chopped himself in half and then there were six. Six little Indian boys playing with a hive; A bumblebee stung one and then there were five. Five little Indian boys going in for law; One got in Chancery and then there were four. Four little Indian boys going out to sea; A red herring swallowed one and then there were three. Three little Indian boys walking in the zoo; A big bear hugged one and then there were two. Two Little Indian boys sitting in the sun; One got frizzled up and then there was one. One little Indian boy left all alone; He went out and hanged himself and then there were none." Another example is when Mr. Blore is getting off the train (page 15 & 16), and an old man says "'I'm talking to you, young man. The day of judgement is very close at hand.' Subsiding into his seat Mr. Blore thought to himself: 'He's nearer to the day of judgment than I am!' But there, as it happens, he was wrong...."

I chose these passages for various reasons. For the examples of suspense, I chose the part on page 38 because this passage is about the end of time and the day of judgement. Based on the other mysterious parts of the book, this part seems very eerie and leaves the reader wondering what could possibly be coming. I chose the passage on page 32 because it gives a hint that something bad and controversial happened with the drowning of Cyril. She says "All that is over", but based on the foreshadowing so far, this passage leaves the reader asking if it is really "all that" is really over. I chose the passage from Mr. Blore on page 36 because when he says "'Good thing perhaps, that one can't foresee the future'", it creates a feeling of uncertainty for the reader. Mr. Blore is saying that he might have not enjoyed the island as much as a kid if he know what kind of a job he would have to do. This makes the reader feel leery of what Mr. Blore has in store. I chose the passage on page 29 because it narrates how scared Mrs. Rodgers is. It makes both the reader and Vera ask "What on earth was this women afraid of?". The questions of uncertainty that the reader asks when reading these passages create suspense.

For the examples of foreshadowing, I chose the passage on page 27 because it mentions that with a wind change, the island could be "cut off for a week or more." This hints that the guests will probably encounter this situation and be stranded on the island. I chose the passage with Anthony Marston on page 36 because in this passage, it lists his evening activities, but after dinner, it says "And then - ?", like there may not be anything more for Marston after the dinner. This hints that Marston could be dead very soon. I also chose the Ten Little Indians poem on page 31 because that is a foreshadow that could dictate the rest of the book. There are ten guests, and there are ten indians, and the book title is And There Were None, which is the last line of the poem. This poem seems like it could have a major impact on the fates of the ten guests. I also chose the passage on page 15 and 16 because of the last two lines, "'He's [the old man] is nearer to the day of judgement than I am!' But there, as it happens, he was wrong..." These lines foreshadow that Mr. Blore will die very soon, considering that the old man did not seem to have very much of his life left. Through various hints throughout the story, the writer can foreshadow important events to come, making the story more interesting.

Allison-
Nicely done. Good choice of quotes; they show both suspense and foreshadowing. Your explanations are thorough and show evidence that you understand the novel. Hope you are enjoying it!
Mrs. M
12-4-12